Heavy rainfall continued to batter South Korea on Sunday, pushing the death toll from this week’s deluge to at least 14, with authorities warning the numbers could rise as search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
According to the country’s interior ministry, two additional deaths were confirmed Sunday after early morning storms pummeled Gapyeong county in Gyeonggi province, located about 70 kilometres (40 miles) east of Seoul. The area recorded nearly 170 millimetres (6.7 inches) of rainfall overnight, leading to flash floods, landslides, and other rain-induced incidents.
Among the newly confirmed casualties, a woman in her 70s lost her life after her home was engulfed in a landslide. Separately, rescue officials discovered the body of a man in his 40s near a bridge, believed to have drowned in the floodwaters, according to a report by Yonhap news agency.
Authorities say that at least 12 individuals are still unaccounted for across the affected regions as the country marks its fifth consecutive day of torrential downpours.
The worst-hit area remains Sancheong county in the southern part of the country, a rural region home to about 33,000 residents. The county has recorded nearly 800 millimetres of rain since Wednesday. On Sunday morning, two more bodies were recovered during intensive search efforts, bringing the total number of deaths in Sancheong alone to eight. Six others are still missing in the county.
South Korea generally experiences monsoon rains each July and maintains a robust preparedness system. However, the southern regions have been overwhelmed by what officials describe as some of the most intense hourly rainfall ever recorded. Meteorological data confirms that the downpours broke several regional rainfall records over the past week.
Scientists point to climate change as a key factor intensifying the severity and frequency of extreme weather events globally. South Korea has not been immune: the country experienced record-breaking rainfall in 2022, resulting in widespread floods and at least 11 deaths.
Emergency services continue to work around the clock, while residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to evacuate or remain on high alert. Authorities are closely monitoring water levels in rivers and reservoirs, concerned about potential overflow or dam-related risks.
What You Should Know
South Korea is reeling from days of relentless monsoon rains that have claimed at least 14 lives, mostly in rural Sancheong county. With 12 people still missing and more rain expected, the crisis underscores the increasing impact of climate change on extreme weather patterns.
